Tire tube tester



Oct. 4, 1932.

D. H. MILLER TIRE TUBE TESTER Original Filed Sept.

5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N V ENTOR. DaniellLMiller BY v 1 A TTORN E Y.

Oct. 4, 1932.

H. MILLER TIRE TUBE TESTER Original Filed Sept. 5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Daniel ILMiller A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 4, 1932 "UNITED, sTAT s DANIEL H.'1VIILLER, E KEARNEY, NEBRASKA TIRE TUBE TESTER Application filed September 5, 1928, Serial No. 304,041; Renewed 'February.3, 1932. I

The present invention relates to devices for testing inner tubes of pneumatic tires in order to locate punctures or otherair leaks within the inner tubes which are not readily? visible to the eye and'having for its object to provide a portable device designed to submerge inner tubes .within a tank of water wherein the rising air bubbles will indicate the exact locationof such leak.

the invention to provide a portable apparatus of the character describedof a simple, durable and knockdown construction'which may be readily and easily dismantled and arplete apparatus will take up but a minimum amount of space during shipment thereof.

'Still' another object of the invention is'to provide an inner tube testing device of the character set forth with a tube submerger capable of being retained in an-elevated posi-- tion when not inluse and locked in a sub merged position whereby the tube will be retained in the water and the operator having his hands free to move the tube withinthe water so as tomake aicomplete inspection of the same.

the above and other objects in view the invention may be-sa'id to consist of novel. features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts that will be -"liereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the appa ratus embodying thepresent invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; 7 Figure 3 is a detail view of thelocking device a-s is taken onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows as shown thereon, Figure 4 is af vertical horizontal section through the entire machine showing the'sub merger when' 'in its elevated position,

Figure 5 is a similar view to that shown in t Figure 4, showing the position'of the subthe tank of water, 7 W

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the table or support, and

i the submerger. 1

It is also among the important objects of ranged in a compact manner so that the com thereof; This tank 6 is to containwater up' merger when retaining the inner tube within Figure? is [a detailed perspective view of Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar referencecharacters throughout the several views, the apparatus as herein disclosed comprises a suitable table or support having detachably mounted thereupon a tank containing water in which is-adapted to. be submerged the inner tube of'a pneumatic tire indicated herein by the letter T which is to be tested. Detachably connectedto this tank or water 'holdor is a suitable support or'brac'ket carrying a submerging device which is adapted to retain the inner tube in a submerged position within the water contained inthe tank.

The table or holder for the apparatus is preferably made of three'posts' indicated by the numeral 1 and each being made of -angle iron as shown. These posts 1 are connected by upper and lower braces indicated by the numerals '2- and '3 respectively, each of which consisting of flat bars bentin 'the'form of a triangleas better illustrated in Figure 6, having their corners riveted orotherwise' secured to the posts I as is indicated by the numeral 4 andthe opposite ends of each band" are riveted or otherwise secured together as indicated by the numeral *5. The braces 2- not onlyrigidlyconnect the'suppor'ting posts 1 but also provide a shelfforisupporting a tank 6 in the manner as is to be later set forth.

This tank 6'is also preferably madeof sheet metal and of a circular formation having a reenforcing band 7 secured to the upper end to the level of that shown in Figure 4 whereby an ordinary inner tube may be submerged within this water and the arising bubbles therefrom will correctly indicate any punctures or airleaks within this inner tube.

In' order to submerge this-inner tube within the water contained within the tank and retain the same inits submerged position, a spider shaped submerger Sis provided and which is better illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. llhis spider shaped submerger v consists of four U-shaped members being connected or riveted together alongcertain of their sides as indicated by the numeral 9, forming a central bearing block 10 andfour 12is provided with a reduced portion 26 in;

shaft 12. Also detachably connected as at. 18 to the diametrically opposedsides of the tank. 6 is aU-shaped bar 19 having an openrigidly projecting arms each terminating in Y-shaped ends 11. This submerger is carried by a vertically movable shaft 12 and is detachably connected thereto by extending the lower end of the shaft through the hub portion 10 of the submerger and locking the submerger to the shaft by means of the locking nut 13. Interpo'sed. between the opposite faces of the submerger 8 and the locking nut 13 are the plates 14 which plates greatly increase the strength of the radially projecting arms of this submerger.

Dctachably connected to the tank 6 and supporting the shaft 12 of the submerger is a bracket consisting of a vertically extended bar 15 having its lower end detachably connected by means of the bolt '16-to thetank 6 and itsupper extremity'bent atright angles theretoin order to form a bearing support v17 through which extends the upper end of the upon itselftoform a handle 25 at one end thereof andits opposite end extending within the bar 15 and pivotally connected thereto as at 23. The rod 21 extends through this lever 2 1so as to form a guide therefor'and the shaft order to form a connection between the shaft 12 and thislever. Theopposite sides-of thislever are retained within the groove 26 of the shaft 12'by'means of. the bolt'27 and a spaceris arranged between the opposite sides of the leverso as to prevent a too tight connection between the shaft-12 and this lever whereby the shaft will be free to rotate within the lever but will be=caused to move in a vertical direction by the swinging of the lever upon its pivotconnection From this construction it is obvious that when the operatorgrasps the handle 25 and swings'the lever uponits pivoted connection the shaft '12 may be raised or lowered and likewise the 811b,.

merger carried by the shaft 12 will be'caused 'to traveltherewith' In order to retain this submerger' in anelevated 'orsubmerged position, I provide a locking device which consists of a 'pl'ate28 pivotally mounted as at '29 upon the bar 19.

i This plate is providedwithh handle 30 at one end thereof and its opposite end is connected by means of a coil spring 31 to the bar 21and formed within theplate 28 is a recess 32. The shaft .12 has formed therein a pair of spaced grooves indicated by the numerals 33 and 34 respectively which are to receive this plate 28 for limiting the vertical movement of the shaft 12. From this construction it is obvious that when it is desired to elevate and retain in an elevated position the submerger 8, the shaft 12 is raised to the. position as shown in Figure & whereat the plate 28 will seat itself within the groove 34 of the shaft 12 and as therecess 32 of this plate is of less diameter than that of the shaft 12 it will, when seated within this groove 34, prevent the vertical-movement of the shaft 12 and likewise the submerger carried thereby. When it is desired, to submerge the tube within the tank the operator will release the latch member 28 by pulling upon the handle 30 thereof against the tension of the spring 31,- and pushing down on the handle 25 causes the submerger' to enter the tank. By releasing the handle 30 of this locking plate the latter willengage the groove 33.0f the shaft 12 thereby holding the, submerger and the tube submerged in the position as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. From the fore going construction itis apparent thatan operator may submerge an inner tube within the water contained within the tank and lock this inner tube in a submerged positionas is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings thereby permitting his hand to be free so that he may turn or otherwise inspect the tube T within the tank while being submerged therein. Likewise, when the submerger is raised to the position as illustrated in theFigure 4:,

it will be locked and retained in this position so that another tube may be substituted for the tube previously inspected and removed from thetank.

When the device is presented for use the tank 6 rests upon the shelf 2 as is better illus-.

trated in Figures 1 and 6 of the, drawings and the projection end 35 of the post 1 retains this tank in position upon the braces 2 or shelf of the support therefor.

. -Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

Iclaim H l 1. A-tire tube tester comprising a support composed of structural elements, a tank detachably mounted upon said support, a bracket detachably connected to said tank, a spider shaped tube submerger supported by said bracket, a lever pivotally connected to said bracket and meansfor operatively connect ing said lever with said tube submerger whereby the latter may be manually raised or lowered. r

2. A tire tube tester comprising a stand, a,

tank removably supported upon said stand, a bracket detachably connected to said tank,

an upright shaft rotatably and slidably mounted within said bracket, a tube submerger secured to the lower end of said shaft, a lever pivotally mounted upon said bracket and connected to said shaft whereby said shaft and tube submerger carried thereby may be raised and lowered and means for locking such shaft in its raised or lowered position.

3. A tire tube tester comprising a tank, a bracket connected to said tank, an upright shaft rotatably and slidably mounted within said bracket, a spider shaped submerger carried by the lower end of said shaft, a lever pivotally mounted upon said bracket and connected to said shaft for raising and lowering said tube submerger, and a spring actuated locking member adapted to engage such shaft for retaining the latter in its raised or lowered position.

4:. A tire tube tester comprising a stand, a tank supported upon said stand, a vertically extending bar having one end secured to said tank, an inverted U-shaped bar having its opposite ends secured to said tank, a horizontal bar connecting said vertical and U- shaped bar, a shaft extending through said bars, a tire tube submerger carried by said shaft, a lever pivotally connected to said vertical bar and to said shaft whereby the shaft may be raised and lowered, and a vertical guide rod for said lever and connected to said vertical bar and said horizontally arranged bar.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DANIEL I-I. MILLER. 

